The MLB trade deadline is just over a day away and the Mets have been linked to various players throughout the major leagues. There's one problem though, they're all pitchers. And while you can never have too much pitching, none of these deals are going to make a difference. Had they gotten in on Cliff Lee, Dan Haren, and Roy Oswalt, it would've. Those types of guys have the ability to tip the scale from "NO PLAYOFFS" to "PLAYOFFS". Ted Lilly doesn't. The real problem is, at this point, there's essentially no deal currently to be had on the market that would make them a playoff team the way this team has been playing since the All-Star break.

They have to rely on the talent they already have to begin to contribute like they're capable of. Carlos Beltran needs to play like the MVP candidate he can be. Jason Bay needs to wake up and play like he has in the past. Ike Davis needs to continue to get better. Jose Reyes, Angel Pagan, David Wright, right down the line. The Mets have one of the most talented lineups in baseball. Unless they play like it, it doesn't matter who they trade for.

Tim Brown reports that the Minnesota Twins have acquired Matt Capps from the Washington Nationals for Wilson Ramos and Joe Testa.

Capps is 3-3 with 2.74 ERA with 26 saves in 46 innings of work. He will take over the closer role, making Jon Rauch, another ex-National, the set-up man.

BaseballAmerica.com ranks Ramos as the Twins second best prospect. The catcher was ranked 58th best prospect in all of baseball. For more information on Ramos read this article by Ben Goessling, very good read.

With the trade deadline approaching there are a bunch of rumors going around. Here are some of those rumors:

• FOX Sports reports that the Los Angeles Dodgers are working on a deal with that Chicago Cubs that would send Ted Lilly and Ryan Theriot to L.A.
• Jon Heyman reports that the Mets asked the Cubs it Tom Gorzellany was available. A deal for him seems unlikely.
  
• Jon Morosi reports that the Minnesota Twins, the Philadelphia Phillies, and the San Francisco Giants are all interested in Ty Wiggington.
  
• Morosi also reports the Arizona Diamondbacks are looking to trade Edwin Jackson to the Chicago White Sox. The deal is rumored to be close to done.
• Joel Sherman reports that the Tampa Bay Rays and San Francisco Giants are still in on Adam Dunn. The White Sox were interested in him but the asking price got too high.
• The Tigers, Padres, and White Sox are all interested in Brad Hawpe, reports Troy Renck and Jon Morosi.
• Keith Law reports that Prince Fielder and Corey Hart are off the trade market.

Mets defeat Cardinals 4-0

Listen to my commentary on the Mets and their victory over the Cardinals plus the team moving forward.

4:30 PM:

Ken Rosenthal reports that it is a done deal. Jorge Cantu sent to Texas for pitchers Evan Reed and Omar Poveda.

MinorLeagueBall.com says this about Poveda:

Grade C+: Looks like an inning-eater type. Worried about low strikeout rate.

Right now Poveda is out recovering from Tommy John surgery.

2:06 PM:

Clark Spencer reports that the Texas Rangers and the Florida Marlins are getting closer on a deal that would send Jorge Cantu to Texas.

Bob Nightengale reports that the Marlins are willing to pay most of and maybe even all of Cantu's contract.

At this point it just looks like they are hammering out the details. I would imagine this deal would get done by the end of the day.